SWAU HOSTS ANNUAL GALA

Sep 26 2018 - 2:15am

By:

Darcy Force

Southwestern Adventist University celebrated its 125th anniversary at the annual student scholarship fundraising gala on September 24, 2018. The evening proceeds will reach in excess of $82,000. Held at the Aristide Event Center in Mansfield, the event was attended by more than 225 guests.

University President Ken Shaw reported on the status of the University. He shared some of the fun and interesting historical moments at Southwestern, such as the distance education program which was one of the first of its kind when begun in 1898. Shaw also shared new rankings by U.S. News & World Report in two categories: No. 13 out of 64 schools in the Regional Colleges West category (up from 20 last year) and No. 5 in the Best Value Schools category in the West Region.

Student Association President Matthew Hanson shared one of his experiences as a student, when he wasn’t sure how he would be able to pay his bill. “I prayed that the Lord would work a miracle for me and help me find a way to pay the last amount of my school bill,” says Hanson. “As soon as I finished my prayer, my phone dinged with a new email from Student Finance saying I received a new scholarship! I quickly opened my student finance account to view my balance, and to my amazement it showed that the scholarship I received covered my remaining balance on my student account. It is because of the donors of our University that students like me are able to stay at this amazing University.”

The University Singers, Southwestern’s elite traveling choral group, performed from the balcony of the event center. The repertoire included songs from different cultures, celebrating the diversity of the University student body.